Agenda and draft minutes

To remind Members of the need to record the existence and nature of any personal, disclosable pecuniary or other registrable interests in items on the agenda, in accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct.

Councillors Erik Pattenden and Patrick Clark declared an interest in Agenda Item 3. As they had close family members who were employed by West Berkshire Council, they declared that this item would have a direct financial effect on these family members and so would constitute a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest. For this reason, they determined to leave the meeting while the consideration of this item took place.

Purpose: The Council is required, in accordance with section 38 of the Localism Act 2011, to publish an annual pay policy statement. This report seeks to secure compliance with that duty, by seeking approval of the Statutory Pay Policy Statement for publication.

A point of order was raised that, as this was an Extraordinary meeting convened with less than five clear days’ notice, it might not be legally convened. Taking advice from the Deputy Monitoring Officer, the Chairman was satisfied that, as the deadline for approving the report was before the 1 April 2026 and that there were provisions for this in the Local Government Act 1972, he agreed that the meeting was required and should proceed.

Council considered a report (Agenda Item 3) concerning the Statutory Pay Policy for 2026/27.

MOTION: Proposed by Councillor Vicky Poole and seconded by Councillor Jeff Brooks:

“That Council adopt and approve the Statutory Pay Policy Statement for publication. It is further recommended that the Council delegate authority.” 

Councillor Poole introduced the report and highlighted that it was an annual report needing to be approved by the end of March. It had been taken through the Personnel Committee and showed a reduction in the pay ratio between the highest and lowest paid staff, and the total Council pay scales. Overall, she recommended that it be approved by Council.

Some Members questioned the increase in staff considered to be Chief Officers, with one suggesting that it had risen from around 18 in 2019 to potentially 43 in 2026. However, the Administration did not recognise that figure, highlighting that it was around 23. In addition to this, more detail about the amount and salary of Chief Officers was requested.

In response to a point about the lack of notice and reason why the meeting was an Extraordinary meeting, it was clarified that the report had been through the Personnel Committee, which was in public, so Members and the public had been given plenty of time to review it. The role of Council in the process was simply for final approval.

Overall, Council agreed to approve the recommendation in the report, and approve the Statutory Pay Policy. 

The Motion was put to the meeting and duly RESOLVED.